Liquid separator



Nov. 14, 1950 A. GORDON LIQUID sEPARAToR 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 4,1946 Nov. 14, 1950 A. GORDON 2,530,054

LIQUID sEPARAToR Filed Dec. 4, 194e 4 sheets-sheet 2 Nov. 14, 1950 A.GORDON 2,530,054

LIQUID sEPARAToR jyff Nov. 14, 1950 A. GORDON LIQUID sEPARAToR .4Sheets-Sheet-4 Filed Dec. 4,

n f, I/NIIN I W W I I i II I WV 7/ IIWIQIH .H Q 7 0 mi m II m HI I I MMI I f HIII II II I1 .ullhl mh IHHI. IMI .Hf 5% |I| MI WMU III IWIIIIHIIII IIN. W// I I l wm Nb ,m 7 w Q,\ Q uw f Patented Nov. 14, 1950UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIQUIDv SEPARATOR Arthur Gordon, Chicago,Ill.

Application December 4, 1946, Serial No. 714,043

6 Claims.

This invention relates to the separation of liquids, and especially tothe separation of the lightest liquid from a mixture of liquids ofdifferent specific gravities.

The separating system of this invention is simple and easy tomanufacture and does not employ any moving parts. It was adapted toreadily separate and remove the lightest liquid from a mixture ofliquids having different specic gravities regardless of the rate of flowthereof or the percentage of the lightest liquid, A specific example ofan installation in which the invention is of particular importance isthat of separating the oil from a mixture of Water and oil. Theinvention provides ready and continuous separation and will handle largevolumes of liquids.

The invention will be described as related to the embodiments of thesame set out in the accompanying drawings. Of the drawings, Fig. l is avertical section taken longitudinally through one embodiment of theinvention along line I-I of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section takenalong line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken along line3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken along line 4-4 of Fig.2; Fig. 5 is a Vertical section taken along line 5--5 of Fig. 1 and Fig.2; and Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical section taken through a secondembodiment of the invention.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions, it is shown in the drawings and willhereinafter be described in the preferred embodiments. It is notintended, however, that the invention is to be limited thereby to thespecific construction disclosed,

but it is intended to cover all modifications and alternativeconstructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention asdened in the ap- Dended claims.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive comprises a main bodyportion I0 having a front wall II, a rear wall I2, and side walls I3 andI4. The main body portion I0 is open at the top and provided with aremovable cover member I5. The interior of the unit is divided into aninlet compartment I6, an intermediate compartment I1, and an outletcompartment I 8. The compartments are divided from each other by a pairof vertical T-shaped wall members I9 and 29. The wall member I9 ispreferably formed integrally with the rear wall I2, while the other wallmember 2D is likewise formed integrally with the front wall I I. Thesewall members I9 and 29 have their main portions in substantially thesame plane which bisects the main body portion I0. The tops 2| and 22 ofthe T-shaped'members I9 and 20 are substantially parallel to each otherand separated from each other. The flat portion 2 I is provided with endflanges 23 and 24 and the flat portion 22 is provided with similarflanges 25 and 26. Flanges 23 and 25 extend toward each other and aresubstantially co-planar; likewise, flanges 24 and 26 extend toward eachother and are substantially co-planar. The T-members I9 and 20 terminateat their lower ends short of the bottom 2l of the body portion I 0. Aseparator 28 is provided having side walls 29 formed as a basket andadapted to be held between ilat portions 2l and 22 and flanges 23, 24,25, and 2B. The separator 28 is adapted to be slid in a verticaldirection into place between the flanges and may be removed through anauxiliary cover 30 in the cover member I5. One vertical wall 29 whichseparates the .intermediate chamber II from the outlet chamber I8 isprovided with a plurality of spaced apertures 3l. An inverted V-shapedscreen 32 is provided between the side Walls 29 of the separator 28.This screen is removable and is provided at its topmost portion with ahandle 33. As can ebe seen from Fig. 3, a horizontal flange 34 isprovided extending between the bottoms of flanges 25 and 25. A similarflange 35 is provided between side flanges 23 and 24. These twohorizontal flanges hold the separator in place.

An inlet connection 36 communicates with the inlet chamber I 6 throughthe end wall I4 (Fig. 3) A vertical bale wall 31 is p-rovided within theinlet chamber I6 spaced from the end wall I4 and extends from near thetop of the unit downwardly to a point short of the bottom 2l. An outletpipe 38 is provided communicating at its inner end with the outletcompartment I8. The communication is provided for by having the innerend of the outlet pipe 38 attached to a passageway 39 extending downalong the side of the -main body portion I0 and communicating with ahorizontal passageway 4I) extending into the bottom of the outletcompartment I8.

A trough 4I is provided near the top of the unit either in the inletchamber I6 alone, or in both the inlet chamber I6 and the intermediatechamber Il. As shown, the trough is provided in both of the chambers.This trough is formed integrally with the front wall Il, rear wall I2,side wall I3, baiie 31, and T-shaped wall members I9 and 2U. The troughportion 4Ia extending between anges 23 and 25 is provided with its owninner side 42, while the trough 4I?) is formed with its own inner side43 extending between ianges i24 and 26. The troughs 4I, 4Ia, and 4Ibhave inwardly sloping inner walls and the tops of the troughs aresubstantially horizontally aligned with the top of the inlet connection35. The apertures 3I in the wall 29 of the separator are allhorizontally aligned with substantially the middle portion of thetroughs. All the troughs 4 I, 4 I a, and 4I?) are provided withdownwardly and inwardly extending toothed flanges 45 constituting acontinuation of the upper ends of the inner walls of the troughs andacting as strainers to catch solid particles such as paper, etc. Thebottom of all the troughs is located a short distance below the lowersurface of the inlet 36. As was stated before, the apertures 3|, asshown, are substantially horizontally aligned with the Vcenters of thetroughs 4I, 4m, and IIIb.v This need not be true in all cases, however,as it may sometimes be desirable to locate the apertures aligned withthe upper or lower portions of the troughs.

The rear wall I2 of the unit is provided with an outlet 4IYcommunicating with that portion of the trough IIIy along the rear wallI2. The two portions of this trough that are separated bythe T-shapedwall member I9 are in communication with each other'by means ofY anaperture 47l near the bottom of the troughs. A similar aperture 43 isprovided in the member between those two portions of the trough adjacentthe front wall I I. The outlet 46 communicates with a chamber 49, whichin turn communicates with a storage chamber 50. The irst chamber 49 isprovided with an inverted U-shapedV drain tube 52 leading to the bottomof the main body portion II). The iirst chamber 49 is also provided withan inclined screen 53 beyond the drainy tube 52 and extending across thechamber and from thev bottom of. the chamber to a point above the normalliquid level therein. The first chamber I9 is connected by a shortl pipe54 with the storage chamber 59. The first chamber 49. hasY a removablecover 55 thereon while the storage chamber 5UY has a top 5,6V having anopening 5T therein normally closed by a removable cover 58. In. order toprovide automatic means for emptyingthe storage chamber 50, there isprovided a pump 59 that is automatically operated by float B0, oating ontop of .the liquid SI within the chamber 50. The pump 59 draws liquid inthrough a pipe 62 extending to a point adjacent the bottom of thechamber 5|1 and exhausts liquid out an exhaust pipe 63.

The liquid iowing in through the inlet pipe 36 passes under the bale 31and into the inlet compartment I' at a point near the bottom oi theunit. Practically all of the fats, greases, and oils inthe liquid willthen collect at the upper portion ofthe compartment I6, while thesolidswill. sink to the bottom of the unit. These solids will be carriedby the ilowv of liquid into the intermediate chamber Il. When the liquidreaches the level in the intermediate chambery Il o the apertures 3| inthe separator 28, it will ow through these apertures into the outletAchamber IS.V AnyA i'lne suspended matter ilowing intothe outlet chamberI8 will be stopped. by the screen 32. From the outlet chamber I8, theliquid will flow through passageway 4U and passageway 39 into the outletpipe 38`.

In order to separate and carry off the lighter liquid, the troughs-4I,4Ia,. and 4Ib are provided. When there is no flow of liquid into. theunit, the liquid level` will beY substantially even with the bottoms ofthe apertures 3|. As liquid is introduced into the unit, the liquidlevel will be raisedv to a higher. operating level. The troughs 4I 4Ia,and 4lb serve as baille means to cause inlet chamber.

the liquid to rise above the outlet connection 4B when liquid is ilowingthrough the apparatus. The difference between the normal liquid leveland this operating level will depend upon the size and capacity of theunit, the quantity and rate of flow of the liquid introduced thereto,and the like. The dimensions of the apertures 3I are so arranged thatduring operation of the separator the liquid level will be substantiallynear the tops of the troughs, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Then any oilfloating on top of the liquid will ow over the top edges of the troughsinto the troughs and will be carried through the outlet connection 46into the rst chamber 49. Most of the oil will be collected in thetroughs at the top of the inlet chamber I6. Some, however, will becarried into the intermediate chamber I'I and will be collected in thetroughs in this chamber. In many installations, however, particularlywhere the rate of flow is small, there will be no necessity to providetroughsin the intermediate chamber 17. Where no.Y troughs are providedin the intermediate chamber II, the outlet. connection 46 will bearranged so that it will communicate with the troughs inthe inletchamber I6 only.

In actual operation, it will be found .that the liquid 5I in the chamber49 will ordinarily contain small amounts of water carried thereinto bythe oil. This water will collect at the bottom of the chamber and may bedrawn by the drain. tube 52 and fed back into the bottom of the unit.The screen 53 serves to separate any small amounts of entrapped solidsin the oil. The oil then iiows from chamber 49. into the storage chamber50.

As can be seen from the descriptionr oi the apparatus and its operation,it is necessary that the apertures 3i be of Such a size. that the liquidlevel during operation of. the apparatus. will rise to the topsA of thetroughs. The total areaof the apertures can be easily determined bythose skilled in the artY from the factors governin operation ofy theapparatus,

In the modication shown in Fig. 6, the unit IIll is similar to. thatshown and described, in my prior United States Patents No. 1,959,623issued lVfay 22, 1934 and No. 2,099,061 issued November 16; i937. Theunit IIlEl comprises a casing IQI having a flange H52 formed integrallytherewith at the upper end. The top of the casing is open and isprovided with a removable grill |93 resting on the ilange IDZ. This angealso supports a removable pan 54 which acts asa closure member for theupper end of the unit. This pan H94. is provided at one side with ahorizontal slot M35' and a baille I 96. Liquid collecting in the pan 94will flow under the baille IDE` and out of the slotY ISE into theinterior of the unit. The interior of the unit is provided with a pairof Wall members IG? which correspond in structure and function to thewalls ZI and 220i the unit I9. A. substantially U-shaped separatormember itil-is disposed within the endY anges IDS of theY walls II.

Thewalls IIB'I andl separator chamber Hi8 divide the lower portion ofthe unit into an inlet chamber IIS and intermediate chambery III and anoutlet chamber II2. A removable screen II3 is positioned in the outletchamber H2. An outlet connection H4- comrnunicates with the interior ofthe outlety chamber I I2.

With this arrangement any liquids which are collected in the panIiiiwill flow through the slot i' into the inlet chamber I I@ throughthe opening I IV provided between the troughsV I IB in the OilV will owover the tops of these troughs and into the troughs and then flowthrough the pipe II1 into the oil chamber H8. Water in the intermediatechamber. III will new overthe lower wall IBa into the outlet chamber' H2and outl the outlet connection H4. The usual drain H9 and screen |20 isprovided in the oil chamber H8 as previously described. Oil from oilchamber l l'ows through an outlet connection l2! into anyvtype suitablestorage tank. l f

This invention is related to those shown and described in-my priorUnited States Patents No. 1,851,172 issued March 29, 1932 and No.2,070,202 issued February 9, 1937.

I claim:

1. A system for separating the lightest liquid from a mixture of liquidshaving different specic gravities, comprising a casing having a bottomand sidewalls and having inlet and outlet connections to enable t"e owof liquid therethrough, the point of communication of said o-utletconnection with the casing being located below the inlet connection tothe casing to determine the normal liquid level in said casing, a troughpositioned around the sidewalls of said casing with its upper edge apredetermined distance above said normal liquid level whereby a flow ofliquid through said casing, which raises said normal liquid level abovethe upper edge of the trough, Vwill result in the lightest liquid:dowing into said trough, a second casing disposed exteriorly of saidfirst casing and communicating with said trough and entraining theliquid flowing into the latter, and a drain pipe interconnecting saidfirst casing and the lower portion 1 of said second casing and returningto said first casing any liquid of higher specic gravity than collectedfrom said rst casing and entrained in said second casing` 2. A systemfor separating the lightest liquid from a mixture of liquids havingdifferent specic gravities, comprising a casing having inlet and outletconnections to enable the flow of liquid therethrough, baffle meansinterpositioned interiorly of said casing between said inlet and outletconnections and extending above the lat-- ter a restricted opening inthe baffle means communicating the casing with the outlet, said openingbeing smaller than the inlet to cause liquid introduced into said casingfrom the inlet to flow above said outlet connection during its flowthrough the casing, a trough having a downwardly and inwardly extendingtoothed ange positioned interiorly of said casing for collecting thelightest liquid as the liquid level rises during the flow of liquidtherethrough, a second casing connected with said trough for entrainingsaid lightest liquid collected thereby, and

means interconnecting said last casing and saidV rst casing forreturning any heavier liquid entrained therein to said first casing.

3. A system for separating the lightest liquid from a mixture of liquidshaving different specinc gravities, comprising fa, casing having inletand outlet connections to enable the flow of liquid therethrough, baillemeans interposed interiorly of said casing between said inlet and outletconnections and extending above the latter a restricted opening in thebaille means communicating the casing with the outlet, said openingbeing smaller than the inlet to cause the liquid introduced into saidcasing from the inlet to flow above said outlet connection during itsflow through the casing, a trough having a downwardly and inwardlyextending too-thed flange positioned interiorly of said casing forcollecting the lightest liquid as thev liquid level rises during theflow of liquid therethrough, a second casing connected with said troughfor entraining said lightest liquid collectedv thereby, meansinterconnecting said last casing and said rst casing for returning anyheavier liquid entrained therein to said iirst casing, and meansconnected with said second casing for `storing said lightest liquid.

4. A system for separating the lightest liquid from a mixture of liquidshaving different specinc` gravities, comprising a casing having inletand outlet connections to enable the flow ofliquid therethrough, thepoint of communication of said outlet connection with the casing beinglocated below the inlet connection to the casing to determine the normalliquid level in said casing, a trough having a downwardly and inwardlyextending toothed flange positioned interiorly of said casing and formedintegrally therewith with its upper portion a predetermined distanceabove said normal liquid level, whereby a flow of liquid through saidcasing, which raises the normal liquid level above the trough, will.result in the lightest liquid flowing into said trough, a second casingdisposed exteriorly of said first casing and communicating with saidtrough for entraining the liquid flowing into the latter, meansconnecting said second casing and the lower portion of said first casingfor returning any heavier liquid entrained therein to said lrst casing,and means connected with said second casing for storing said lightestliquid.

5. A system of separating the lightest liquid from a mixture of liquidshaving different specific gravities, comprising a casing having a bottomand sidewalls and having an inlet and an outlet connected to the casingabove the bottom thereof to determine a normal level of liquid in thecasing and to enable the flow of liquid therethrough, a trough supportedby the sidewalls and extending substantially completely therearound,said trough having an upper edge located above the normal liquid levelin the casing and said trough being adapted to collect the lightestliquid as the liquid level rises in said casing due to the flow ofliquid therethrough, a second casing connected with said trough forentraining said lightest liquid collected thereby, means interconnectingsaid second casing and said first casing for returning any heavierliquid entrained therein to said nrst casing, a removable screendisposed interiorly of said second casing for removing any foreignmatter from the liquid passing through the same, and means connectedwith said second casing for storing said lightest fluid.

6. Mechanism for separating the lightest liql uid from a mixture ofliquids having different specific gravities, comprising a casing havinga bottom and side walls and having an inlet and an outlet connected tothe casing above the bottom thereof to determine a normal level ofliquid in the casing and to enable the flow of liquid therethrough, asubstantially U-shaped outlet chamber connected to the outlet andbisecting the casing, said chamber having a bottom spaced above thebottom of the casing to permit liquid ow thereunder from one section ofthe casing to the other, means connecting the outlet chamber with one ofsaid sections, said means being located substantially level with theinlet, a trough located alongr the side walls in both sections andhaving an upper edge located above the normal liquid level forcollecting the upper portion of said 'Liquid as the 'leveli thereofrsesabove the normal level due to the flow of liquid through thecasingalseparating chamber having a discharge connection, meansinterconnecting said separating chamber with said trough to cause theliquid collected in the trough to ow into said separat ing chamber and adrain pipe interconnected at its ends between the lower portions of saidcasing and said separating chamber.

ARTHUR GORDON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileofthis patent:

Number 81y UNITED" STATES PATENTS Name Date Koneman et a1. Jan. 3, 1899Bibolini et a1 Jan. 21, 1908 Ellis Oct. 15, 1912 Maywald Dec. 31, 1912Kelly, Jr. Oct. 10, 1916 Nordell Aug. 18, 1936 Gordon Nov. 16, 1937Allen Aug. 30, 1935

